- Safiu Kehinde
The Gombe State Government has suspended two traditional rulers in the state for failing to take necessary measures to prevent farmer-herder clash in their communities.
Clash had reportedly broken out in Funakaye community leading to the death of two persons, a village head’s son and a policeman.
In the wake of the clash, Zubairu Umar, the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the State, announced the suspension of the traditional rulers in Gombe while addressing a news conference after an Expanded Security Council Meeting chaired by the state Governor, Inuwa Yahaya.
Umar said that the suspension of the traditional rulers, who are a district head and a village head, will serve as a deterrent to other traditional rulers on the need to take responsibility and maintain peace in their communities.
“The move by the state government will serve as a deterrent to other traditional rulers in the state on the need to take up their responsibility with regard to maintaining peace in their communities.
“The council also took some security measures to prevent the escalation of the conflict as well as ensure a peaceful harvest across the state,” he said.
The commissioner said that the state had maintained a record of being one of the safest states in the country as a result of the proactive effort of the state government, “this is what we must guide jealousy.
“The recent resurgence of farmer-herder crisis in some parts of the state had been brought to the Security Council, and the matter was deliberated which led to the suspension of two traditional rulers.
“The council viewed the failures of the traditional rulers as what led to the situation that was witnessed in Funakaye LGA.
Umar also expressed the council’s dissatisfaction over attack on some security personnel carrying out their lawful duties around the state.
He said that some arrests had been made and the suspects would soon be charged to court for prosecution.
He urged residents of the state to desist from attacking security personnel in their communities, stressing that any assault against security personnel would not be tolerated.
He urged security agencies in the state to carry out their jobs with professionalism.